Lenswood young tree growth trial – 2019 update

August 2019 | Paul James | Future Orchards® trial interim report

The Lenswood Young Tree Growth trial examines how different early training methods affect the development of Aztec Fuji on M26 in an orchard designed for netting. The trial was established in the Adelaide Hills and managed by Paul James.

Trees were planted in 2014 at 3.5 x 1 metre spacing, equivalent to 2,857 trees per hectare. Four replicates of six training treatments were used, ranging from planting trees as supplied by the nursery to whipping side limbs, heading at 900 mm and applying additional branch-management rules.

The central objective was to maximise tree height and branching structure so the orchard could fill its allotted space and develop cropping capacity efficiently under netting. Growth, tree structure and crop performance were measured over multiple seasons.

By the August 2019 update the trial had run for five years and was being continued for another season. The report provides a valuable long-term comparison of how early training choices shape young-tree development.